AP: Rashid's aide reported missing

Hyderabad, May 5: Shakeel, one of the accused in the fake passport case and a close associate of Rasheed arrested in connection with the human trafficking case, is reported missing since the case surfaced.

Sources said Shakeel, hailing from Bodhan town in Nizamabad district, had close links with Rasheed and was allegedly involved in sending people abroad on fake passports.

Shakeel had opened an cunsultancy service abroad and had sent several youth to Gulf countries since 1997. His close links with Rasheed had befriended him with leaders of several political parties.

He joined the BJP in 1999 and became a state minority leader.

Later, he broke away from the party and joined the TDP in 2001.

However, he quit the party in 2004.

He had unsuccessfully contested in the Legislative Council elections.

UNI